Thank you, Lord

It’s trash day at my house, so right after starting the coffee I toured the house and gathered all the bags from the cans, changed the cat litter, and hauled it all out to the street. Not a fun task, to be sure, but it’s a weekly event that has started my Thursday morning for several years.

“Thank you, Lord, for strength. Thank you for providing so much that I have trash to carry out this week. Thank you for all those things I take for granted – the air I breathe, the food I eat, all things are from you, and I often forget that. Thank you, Lord, for all the little things.” That was a portion of my prayer this morning after I finished up the chores.

Our lives are just a moment in time. How often do we go through a day without seeing God in it? How often do we take for granted our life and the time we have? How often do we forget that every little thing is a gift from God. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.” (Psalm 24:1) There are several chapters in the book of Job where God speaks to him and describes creation, hanging stars, and of nature and all the creatures, and of His power (Job 38-41); it’s perhaps one of the most powerful passages of scripture to help us understand who God is. I encourage you to read and think on it for a bit – to marvel at the little details He considered, to marvel at God Himself.

This season in my life I’ve come to appreciate the mercy and love of God. So many blessings surround me, and I owe every one of them to Him. Our home, family, food, employment – all those temporal things …. and yes, even the trash I carry out every Thursday.

God’s Hand created the world and everything in it. God’s gifts of knowledge and artistry allow us to design, imagine and build so many beautiful things. God’s patience and gentle guidance when we go astray help us to grow and mature into the person He created us to be. May He help us to remember this, to give Him praise, and to be thankful for every little thing.

Heavenly Father, thank you. Thank you for all of it – everything. For the good in our lives that we take for granted. For the bad in our lives that we struggle through. Thank you for the rain that falls on everyone, even those who don’t believe in You. Thank you, Lord, for everything.